TupperWhere?: Unpacking the container’s impact on Pinoy culture

More than just a container—from the vibrant fireworks that brighten January's skies to the peaceful nights of December—Tupperware has quietly witnessed the lives of every Filipino unfold throughout the years. 

From the laughter shared by families during special gatherings, the unwavering hard work of different laborers, and the hustle and buckle in school activities, Tupperware has turned into an iconic container that our Filipino parents have ever so dearly treated like their own child—always inside there… in our bags, homes, and school corners. But now, it seems to lose its fuel in  doing so. 

Tracing back to 1946, amid the Great Depression, this American brand brought color and hope to families deeply affected by the war when chemist Earl Tupper designed an airtight seal for plastic storage containers to lessen the money spent on food waste up. 

Eventually, reaching the shores of the Philippines—families sharing the warmth of home-cooked meals carefully packed into its snug, colorful compartments, and even the stress of making sure it’s not left behind. These moments indeed made Tupperware an unspoken part of Filipino culture. 

However, Tupperware Brands and its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on the 17th of September 2024, asking for legal protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as they try to reorganize their debts due to financial problems. Despite their efforts to bounce back, the company's sales unfortunately continue to decline further down the rabbit hole.

As the company tries to stay afloat in the uncertain waters of bankruptcy, this article is a look back on how it wove itself into the everyday lives of Filipinos, stitching countless memories, shared across times in the nation.

In the beginning, the container brand may have simply been a practical choice, brought into Filipino homes for its durability, innovative seal, and the promise that it could keep food fresh and longer. 

But, as time passed, Tupperware embedded itself into our lives, our homes, and yes—our hearts. From the kitchen shelves of our grandmothers to the lunchboxes of our mothers, Tupperware has seen our families grow.

It was as if these containers were our siblings because to break one, or worse, to lose it, was a grave sin for our parents. The panic doesn’t set in when we lose our phone at a party, but when we realize that we’ve left behind the tupperware; it’s because most of these containers are even older than us and have survived countless kitchen wars where its yellowing lids and faint scratches are a testament to its full glory, and sure, their history. 

Carried in each piece are memories of family picnics, celebrations, and made with love meals. No wonder our parents treat them like their own child since they are not just for keeping food… but for keeping memories as well.

Tupperware also found its way towards school activities and office lunches, witnessing the grind of everyday life. They hold more than just Adobo or Sinigang—as they carry slices of joy, memories of shared meals, and the love of families who’ve packed them with care.

However, its status as a trademark in the local market raises a troubling shadow over local craftsmanship and traditional practices. When mothers and aunts unveiled their prized Tupperware sets, ready to collect leftover Lechon or Lumpiang Shanghai for tomorrow's breakfast, has convenience eclipsed over cultural heritage?

Before Tupperware even existed, the Filipino culinary landscape thrived with palayoks and banana leaves, using native materials that showcased the country’s creativity in connection with culture and environment. 

Now, these Anglo-white titled containers have taken the spotlight, serving as symbols of a consumer-driven society that contributes to the escalating plastic waste crisis in the country. Somehow, along with the convenience it embodies lies the subtle yet pervasive influence of American capitalism and imperialism that color everyday life.

As nostalgia envelops these containers, it is also a reminder of what has been sacrificed—creativity, sustainability, and ties to culinary traditions that once defined Filipino hoouseholds. This is where an opportunity enters into the picture to honor both the past and the present, allowing cultural heritage to coexist harmoniously with modernity.  

Like other items, Tupperware faces the threat of fading into history, as it becomes a victim of changing times and trends. 

Today, newer, flashier alternatives have emerged, and the sight of sleek, reusable containers has made some forget the nostalgic charm of Tupperware. Some shelves, once filled with a rainbow of lids and containers, now hold different brands. Yet for many Filipinos, nothing quite compares to the comfort of seeing that familiar Tupperware—a piece of home. 

We may joke about how our parents care more about their Tupperware than anything else, but the sentiment behind it is real and valid. Losing a piece of Tupperware isn’t just about the container itself. It’s losing the memories attached to it, the care and effort that went into packing it, the meals it carried, and the love it symbolized.

Whether Tupperware will still be around in the coming years or so: the real question now is whether we'll continue to carry with us the memories it holds—the laughter, the family gatherings, the school lunches. 

But for sure, for as long as we do, the brand of Tupperware will remain more than just a plastic container… it will remain a part of our Filipino memory and sensibility for its presence will always be a present to us, even if it slowly fades out in oblivion.